British Archaeological Awards 2012

9 July 2012

At a well-attended awards ceremony at the British Museum this afternoon, many of the best projects, discoveries and communications relating to British archaeology over the last two years were officially recognised by the biennial British Archaeological Awards.

DCMS Tourism & Heritage Minister John Penrose MP presented the awards in a ceremony compèred by Loyd Grossman, Chair of The Heritage Alliance.

The main awards announced were:

Best archaeological project and Best archaeological discovery:

The Must Farm project is the first landscape scale archaeological investigation of deep Fenland. Its exploration of deeply buried deposits is transforming our understanding of prehistoric life and revealing a level of preservation previously only dreamt about. The excavation was undertaken by The Cambridge Archaeological Unit, University of Cambridge, in collaboration with Hanson UK, and was delivered in an exemplary manner to the highest standards.

The exceptional nature of the discoveries included Neolithic pavements, Early Bronze Age fence lines and Late Bronze Age pile dwellings, together with 150m of prehistoric river channel containing nine Bronze Age logboats.

Best community archaeology project

The Programme communicates an understanding and informed enjoyment of the historic Thames, the longest open-air archaeological site in London, to the widest possible audience. Over 300 people were trained in archaeological fieldwork and recording as part of Foreshore Recording and Observation Group (FROG) teams, and volunteer research projects linked with the finds are on-going.

Best archaeological book

The book presents the results of a major dating programme that re-writes the early Neolithic of Britain by more accurately dating enclosures; places of construction, labour, assembly, ritual and deposition. The book is genuinely game changing in several ways, as well as being highly readable.

Best archaeological innovation

An online facility provide by the Archaeology Data Service which enhances access to over 12,000 reports on archaeological work utilising advanced technology to allow users to locate reports by geographical location. As a result of this work the Grey Literature is no longer as grey as it once was.

Best representation of archaeology in the media

Time Team continues to make an outstanding contribution to public understanding of archaeology with high editorial standards. The Tottiford programme clearly and engagingly communicated archaeology as a process whilst investigating a complex, multi-period landscape.

The ceremony also contained two additional presentations from the trustees of the British Archaeological Awards

Lifetime Achievement Award

Professor Mick Aston was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for his long-term commitment to public education and for his on-going support for developing our understanding of past human behaviour, as well as major personal contributions to archaeological knowledge and the development of new methodologies.

Operation Nightingale

Operation Nightingale is a ground-breaking archaeology project on Salisbury Plain and elsewhere which helps aid the rehabilitation of soldiers from The Rifles who have been injured on operations in Afghanistan. It is an imaginative and humane use of the quiet, relaxed yet disciplined, thoughtful and physical atmosphere of archaeological excavation to benefit injured and traumatised soldiers. Several of the soldiers are now studying for archaeology qualifications. For these reasons it was recognised as a project of special merit.